Just Be Present

So much easier to say it...much harder to practice it. In this nutty, chaotic, cuckoo world, it is soooo difficult to remain present. I had lunch the other day with a friend from high school, who I hadn't seen in perhaps 30+ years! We had such a great time and talked each others ears off for 5 hours and can't wait to meet again. She was telling me about the passing of her Mom and on one particular day during her illness. My friend stated that she had made a "to-do" list and was very focused and intent on getting through the list. However, her Mom was having a rough day and wanted to get out of bed but could only get to the edge of the bed. She couldn't get up but didn't want to go back. My friend said she sat next to her Mom, with her arm around her, supporting her both physically and emotionally. My friend said it was really hard to be quiet and just sit there. She said she sat there for a very long time, mostly in silence. She said it was really hard as her mind would start fluctuating with thoughts of her "to do" list but she realized that it was more important to just be there with her Mom. To just be present. My friend's eyes welled up with tears and I thought what a gift to have had each other in that moment, on that day, present for each other, with each other. This made me reflect on how many times I have hurried from one activity to the next, from one conversation to the next, without really being present. Fully present. I want to be present...all the time.